Fox Licensing and Inkworks have announced the July release of X-Files: I Want to Believe Trading Cards.  The 72-card series will feature the iconic X-Files leads, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, as well as all the action and intrigue of the second X-Files motion picture, which premieres on July 25th (see “The X-Files: I Want to Believe”).  Because of the secrecy surrounding the plot of the new X-Files film, the Inkworks’ X-Files: I Want to Believe Trading Cards will not be released until the day the movie opens.

But retailers shouldn’t worry about the atypical late debut of the cards--there are plenty of elements in the new X-Files trading card series (the first since the sold out X-Files: Connections in 2005) that will attract the cult following of this unique franchise.  First of all there are the autographs, which already include David Duchovny (Agent Fox Mulder), Gillian Anderson (Agent Dana Scully), X-Files creator Chris Carter, and producer/writer Frank Spotnitz (with more to be announced later).  Then there are the ‘Pieceworks’ cards, which will contain pieces of actual clothing worn during the movie (the costumes involved will also be announced later).

Inkworks has produced cards for seasons four through nine of the X-Files television series as well as the super premium X-Files: Connections series, which featured images from all nine seasons of the groundbreaking TV show.